To the point week of 6-10-10

I see that we have now dealt with the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico for more than 50 days; and all that seems to happen is that someone is consulting with someone else about the problem; someone is threatening to take over if something isn’t done; and no one seems to find time to listen to anyone else who might have an idea.

Meanwhile, millions of gallons of oil pour into the waters.

Experts say that it’s the worst oil disaster since the Exxon Valdez sank off the coast of Alaska; but when the boat ripped open and oil started spilling out, eventually it was going to run out of cargo and the oil was going to stop.

In the Gulf of Mexico, we’re talking about a pipeline that will never stop – until we stop it. You want to see something sobering? Go to www.cnn.com and pull up the live streaming video of the ruptured pipe. It’s amazing that this has been going on for nearly two months, with no end in sight.

By the way, I read a report the other day that a 21-year old college student came up with a plan to stop the leak – and was so convinced that it would work that she went to the Gulf herself to present her idea.

After listening to her, BP officials apparently and symbolically patted her on the head, thanked her for her idea, and sent her on her way.

Here’s her plan: take a smaller pipe that will slide inside the ruptured pipe. Put tires over the smaller pipe, deflated, and slide it inside. Once inside, inflate the tires with hydraulic fluid, which will fill in the gaps between the two pipes and “seal” it from leaking and allow the oil to flow into the smaller pipe and not into the Gulf.

Sounds reasonable to me, which is probably why they won’t try it.

What’s the worst that could happen? Millions of gallons of oil will pour into the water if it doesn’t work….oh – that’s what’s already happening.

Now comes a report that the federal government has given BP a deadline to either come up with a plan or get out of the way. That should help matters, a lot.

*

With all of the controversy surrounding illegal immigrants coming into this country; and the new law that the State of Arizona passed that is causing all kinds of furor, I thought it was interesting the other day when the State of California moved to start an official campaign to discourage Californians from visiting Arizona and spending their tourism dollars there because of the new immigration law.

Then the State of Arizona, which provides about 70-percent of the electricity needed in California, announced that if California did that, Arizona was cutting off its power.

In other words, “If you don’t want people to come to Arizona, maybe they’ll like sitting in the dark with no air conditioning in California…”

Comical, but brilliant.

By the way: since there is all of this talk about building huge walls along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants, I can’t help but wonder if we’re also going to build walls along our northern borders to keep illegal Canadians out of our country?

Who knows how many Canadians have snuck into this country and are taking our jobs and living off of our federal system. Those Canadians are a tricky bunch, because they closely resemble Americans, so they are harder to detect.

As long as they don’t say things like “Eh?” we’ll never know they’re here.

Yes, I understand that’s all said tongue in cheek; but to set a federal policy that is geographic and is mostly pointed at people who don’t look like us is not the “American Way” either.

I want a big fence and security along the border of North Dakota. If we’re in the business of keeping people out, then let’s keep them all out.

*

There were a lot of sad players from Switzerland County walking off of the softball field in Ferdinand, Indiana, last Saturday after the Lady Pacers were eliminated by Frankton in the semistate.

It’s okay to be sad and disappointed, but someday soon, ladies, you’re going to look back and see the amazing “ride” you went on over the last half of the season and you’re going to see that you won a Sectional and a Regional and you’re sadness is going to be replaced by a sense of pride.

The same sense of pride that your entire community already feels because of what you’ve accomplished.

*

The “Tea Party” revolution that has been sweeping the country has spawned many people to begin questioning their elected officials and taking a stronger role in governing at different levels.

We’ve seen elements of that in this community lately, with the uprising over the new proposed comphrensive zoning plan and with the controversial decision to move the sixth graders into Jefferson-Craig this fall.

In a small community such as this one, sometimes voicing opposition to proposals or asking questions can get uncomfortable because issues here can become personal because everyone knows everyone else.

The ability to ask questions and get answers, and to voice an opposition to something that you see as wrong are foundational elements on which our country, state, county, and community are based on, and a free exchange of information is a good thing for all concerned.

Let’s always remember, however, that we should never cross the line between governmental questions and personal attacks. There is no place for fear in an open discussion, and as our community and our nation continues to move forward and pay more attention to decisions that are being made and policies that are being written; it is important to know that everyone is human, and sometimes what is voiced professionally should not be considered a personal attack.

Questions are asked. Answers are given.

“Government of the people, by the people, and for the people”, isn’t that what we’re all about?

*

The World Cup – what is billed as the biggest sporting event on the planet, is about to get underway in South Africa.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t seem to care.

Teams chase a ball around for a couple of hours, someone scores one point in two hours, and hundreds of people get killed in the following stampede. Someone please teach me why this is something I should watch?